Kit for the self-assembly of a reclosable container of consumer goods

ABSTRACT

A kit for the self-assembly of a reclosable container of consumer goods includes a disposable cartridge of consumer goods comprising: a sealed enclosure of consumer goods; and an outer housing around the sealed enclosure of consumer goods having an opening through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goods protrudes and is accessible. The kit also includes a reusable closure comprising: a dispensing aperture; and a lid moveable between a closed position, in which the lid covers the dispensing aperture, and an open position, in which the dispensing aperture is accessible. The reusable closure and the outer housing of the disposable cartridge are releasably engageable so that the dispensing aperture of the reusable closure and the opening of the outer housing are substantially aligned. The kit is particularly suitable for the self-assembly of a reclosable pack of smoking articles such as cigarettes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to EuropeanApplication No. 06250884.1, filed Feb. 20, 2006, the entire content ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to a kit for the self-assembly of areclosable container of consumer goods and in particular to a kit forthe self-assembly of a reclosable pack of smoking articles such ascigarettes.

Conventional hinge-lid cardboard packs of cigarettes typically contain abundle of cigarettes wrapped in an inner liner consisting of a foldedsheet of metal foil or metallized paper. In addition, such packsnormally also include a cardboard inner frame.

Conventional soft packs of cigarettes typically also comprise a bundleof cigarettes wrapped in an inner liner consisting of a folded sheet ofmetal foil or metallized paper, which is in turn wrapped in an outerpaper sleeve.

To preserve the freshness of the cigarettes prior to opening of thepack, conventional hinge-lid cardboard packs of cigarettes andconventional soft packs of cigarettes are also usually shrink wrapped orotherwise overwrapped with a transparent sheet of, for example,polyethylene or polypropylene film.

None of the components of a conventional hinge-lid cardboard pack ofcigarettes or a conventional soft pack of cigarettes are reused. In thecase of conventional hinge-lid cardboard packs of cigarettes, theconsumer discards the overwrap and a portion of the inner liner when heor she initially opens the pack. When the consumer finishes thecigarettes, the inner frame, remainder of the inner liner and thehinge-lid cardboard pack itself are discarded. In the case ofconventional soft packs of cigarettes, the consumer also discards theoverwrap and a portion of the inner liner when he or she opens the pack.When the consumer finishes the cigarettes, the remainder of the innerliner and the outer paper sleeve are discarded.

Unlike conventional hinge-lid cardboard packs of cigarettes,conventional soft packs of cigarettes are not reclosable once opened. Anumber of adapters and attachments have been proposed to enable softpacks of cigarettes to be reclosed once opened. For example, U.S. Pat.No. 1,892,676 discloses an adapter or attachment for soft packs ofcigarettes that comprises a pair of U-shaped wire legs connected attheir upper ends by spaced apart cross-wires. The spaced apartcross-wires are connected by a sheet metal plate comprising a hingedportion that may be opened and closed. When the U-shaped wire legs areinserted between the inner liner and the outer paper sleeve of a softpack of cigarettes, the sheet metal plate constitutes a cover or closurefor the upper end of the pack.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,758,406 discloses a closure for soft packs of cigarettescomprising a plurality of dependent legs secured to a top element, whichincludes a hinged cover that may be opened and closed. The dependentlegs are spaced from the walls of the top element so as to form a groovewhich, when the dependent legs are inserted between the inner liner andthe outer paper sleeve of a soft pack of cigarettes, receives the topedges of the outer paper sleeve.

A variety of other consumer goods are also sold in disposable packagingthat is not intended or capable of being reused.

It would be desirable to provide reclosable packaging for cigarettes andother smoking articles that maintains the freshness of the smokingarticles, but which generates less waste material than conventionalcardboard hinge-lid cigarette packs.

According to the present invention there is provided a kit for theself-assembly of a reclosable container of consumer goods including: adisposable cartridge comprising: a sealed enclosure of consumer goods;and an outer housing around the sealed enclosure of consumer goodshaving an opening through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goodsprotrudes and is accessible; and a reusable closure comprising: adispensing aperture; and a lid moveable between a closed position, inwhich the lid covers the dispensing aperture, and an open position, inwhich the dispensing aperture is accessible., the reusable closure andthe outer housing of the disposable cartridge being releasablyengageable so that the dispensing aperture of the reusable closure andthe opening of the outer housing are substantially aligned.

Preferably, the consumer goods are smoking articles such as, forexample, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. More preferably, the smokingarticles are cigarettes. It will be appreciated that through anappropriate choice of the dimensions of the disposable cartridge andreusable closure, kits according to the invention for the self-assemblyof reclosable containers holding different numbers of, for example,regular size (approximately 80 mm in length), king size (approximately100 mm in length), super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes may beprovided.

Preferably, the outer housing is a sleeve having at least one open end.More preferably, the outer housing is a sleeve having an open upper end.The opening through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goodsprotrudes and is accessible need not, however, be located at an end ofthe outer housing. For example, the outer housing may have an opening inthe side thereof through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goodsprotrudes and is accessible.

The outer housing may be formed from any suitable material including,but not limited to, stiff paper, cardboard, plastic and combinationsthereof. Preferably, the outer housing is formed from cardboard.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer housing is formedfrom a biodegradable material.

Through an appropriate choice of the material or materials from whichthe outer housing is formed, disposable cartridges of kits according tothe invention and reclosable containers formed from the kits, may affordgood physical protection to the consumer goods therein. The term“disposable” is used to indicate that the cartridge is not intended tobe reused.

The external surface of the outer housing may be printed, embossed,debossed or otherwise embellished (for example using labels or stickers)with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and otherconsumer information and indicia.

Preferably, the sealed enclosure of consumer goods comprises a sheet ofprotective material wrapped around the consumer goods.

Preferably the protective material is a barrier material, morepreferably a barrier material that is substantially moistureimpermeable, most preferably a barrier material that is substantiallymoisture impermeable and substantially air impermeable.

Preferably, the protective material is substantially light impermeable.The use of an opaque protective material advantageously protects thesmoking articles or other consumer goods in the sealed enclosure fromexposure to light and potential damage.

Preferably, the protective material is a metallized film or a laminatedfilm. Preferably, the protective material includes at least one plasticmaterial, for example a polyolefin. Examples of metallized filmssuitable for use as the protective material include, but are not limitedto, metallized polypropylene films and metallized oriented polypropylenefilms. Where the protective material is a laminated film, the laminatedfilm preferably comprises an aluminium layer. Examples of laminatedfilms suitable for use as the protective material include, but are notlimited to, polypropylene/aluminium/polypropylene laminated films,polyethylene/aluminium/polyethylene laminated films and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET)/aluminium/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) laminatedfilms.

Most preferably, the protective material is a metallized orientedpolypropylene film.

Preferably, the protective material is hermetically sealed around theconsumer goods to form the sealed enclosure. More preferably, theprotective material is hermetically heat sealed around the consumergoods to form the sealed enclosure.

Through an appropriate choice of the protective material, the disposablecartridges of kits according to the invention may exhibit excellentfreshness-preserving properties over a prolonged period of time, therebymaintaining the quality of smoking articles or other consumer goodstherein prior to the first opening of a reclosable pack or othercontainer assembled from the kit.

Preferably, the protective material includes a line of weakness.Preferably, the line of weakness in the protective material extendsaround the sealed enclosure, proximate the opening in the outer housingof the disposable cartridge. In use, the line of weakness facilitatesthe removal of at least a portion of the protective material by theconsumer in order to open the sealed enclosure and so gain access to theconsumer goods therein. The line of weakness may, for example, be formedby stamping, scoring, perforating, embossing or otherwise compressing,cutting or weakening the protective material. Preferably, the line ofweakness is a tear tape.

Alternatively, to facilitate opening of the sealed enclosure by theconsumer, the protective material may comprise a hole or weakened regioncovered by a removable label or sticker. The removable label or sticker,which acts as a ‘seal’, preferably comprises a grip tab. In use, to openthe sealed enclosure and so gain access to the consumer goods therein,the consumer removes the label or sticker, by pulling on the grip tab,in order to expose the hole in the protective material or remove theweakened portion thereof.

Protrusion of the sealed enclosure of consumer goods from the outerhousing of the disposable cartridge through the opening in the outerhousing advantageously facilitates access to the sealed enclosure ofconsumer goods.

To further facilitate access to the sealed enclosure of consumer goodsin a reclosable container of consumer goods assembled from the kit ofthe present invention, the dispensing aperture of the reusable closurepreferably extends across a first wall of the reusable closure into anadjacent second wall thereof. More preferably, the dispensing apertureextends across a top wall of the reusable closure into a side wallthereof.

The reusable closure may be formed from any suitable materials.Preferably, the reusable closure is made from metal, plastic or acombination thereof. For example, where the outer housing has an openingat its upper end through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goods isaccessible, the reusable closure may be a flexible, soft-touch plasticor metal cap. It will be appreciated, however, that the reusable closureis not necessarily a cap that closes the top of the outer housing, asthe opening through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goods isaccessible need not be located at the upper end of the outer housing.

Preferably, the reusable closure is formed from a polyolefin, inparticular polyethylene or polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate(PET) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) or any combinationthereof.

Preferably, the lid is a hinge lid that is pivotable between the closedposition and the open position.

Depending on the material from which it is made, the reusable closuremay be formed in one piece. However, where the reusable closure isformed from a highly rigid material, for example a rigid plastic, thelid is preferably made separately from the remainder of the reusableclosure and subsequently connected thereto, for example by a pin hinge.

The reusable cap may be made using any suitable conventional processessuch as, for example, injection, bi-injection or compression moulding.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the reusable closure may bemade of two or more different plastic materials or of two or moredifferent colours of the same plastic material by bi-injection moulding.In an alternative embodiment, the reusable closure may be made from acombination of plastic and metal. In a yet further embodiment of theinvention, the reusable closure may be made entirely of metal andinclude a metal hinge system that connects the metal lid to theremainder of the metal reusable closure.

The reusable closure, which may be transparent or opaque, may becoloured and may be provided with embossing, debossing and other knownfinishes such as, for example, frosted, matt, satin and metallic effectsand patterns by, for example, the vacuum metallising, varnishing, laseretching, sublimation or any combination thereof of a plastic from whichthe reusable closure is formed.

In addition, the reusable closure may be printed, embossed or otherwiseembellished (e.g. using labels or stickers) with manufacturer or brandlogos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia.

Preferably, at least a portion of the reusable closure is insertableinto the outer housing through the opening. In a preferred embodiment,the outer housing is a sleeve having an open end and the reusableclosure is a cap, at least a portion of which is insertable into theopen end of the sleeve.

Preferably, the outer housing of the disposable cartridge includes atleast one line of weakness extending from the opening, to facilitatedisengagement of the reusable closure and the disposable cartridge. Morepreferably, the outer housing includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel,lines of weakness extending from the opening. Most preferably, a pair ofspaced apart, parallel, lines of perforations. The spaced apart,parallel, lines of perforations define a “rip strip” in the outerhousing, which extends from the opening. In use, a consumer can pull onthis rip strip to separate the rip strip from the remainder of the outerhousing along the pair of spaced apart, parallel, lines of perforationsand so readily disengage the reusable closure and the disposablecartridge.

Preferably, the outer housing of the cartridge is provided with firstretention means that, in use, cooperate with second retention meansprovided on the reusable closure.

Preferably, the first retention means are provided on the interior ofthe outer housing and the second retention means are provided on theexterior of a portion of the reusable closure that is insertable intothe outer housing through the opening. The provision of first and secondretention means in these locations advantageously results in theretention means not being not visible to the consumer once he or she hasassembled a reclosable container by inserting the portion of thereusable closure into the outer housing through the opening.

Preferably, the first retention means and second retention meanscooperate to produce a sound, more preferably a “clicking” sound. Byproducing a sound, the first retention means and second retention meansadvantageously provide the consumer with an audible indication that thecartridge and reusable closure have been properly releasably engaged andthe kit thereby correctly assembled to form the reclosable container.

The first retention means and second retention means may comprise anysuitable non-permanent, known coupling means. For example, the firstretention means and second retention means may comprise a pair ofmagnetic strips or releasable pressure-actuated hook-and-loop typefasteners positioned on an inward facing surface of the outer housingand an outward facing surface of a portion of the reusable closure thatis insertable into the outer housing through the opening. Alternatively,the retention means may comprise a flap pivotably mounted on one of theouter housing and the reusable closure and a corresponding lug orshoulder mounted on the other of the outer housing and the reusableclosure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first retention meanscomprises at least one hole provided on a flap within the outer housingof the disposable cartridge and the second retention means comprises atleast one outwardly projecting lug provided on the exterior of a portionof the reusable closure that is insertable into the outer housingthrough the opening.

In use, once the consumer goods within the disposable cartridge of areclosable container assembled from a kit according to the inventionhave been consumed, the container may be disassembled by disengaging thereusable closure from the outer housing of the disposable cartridge. Theconsumer may then discard the empty disposable cartridge and assemble afurther reclosable container of consumer goods by connecting the samereusable closure to a new, full, disposable cartridge of consumer goods.

Through the provision of a disposable cartridge and a reusable closure,kits according to the present invention advantageously help to reducethe quantity of waste materials generated when a consumer has used upthe consumer goods in a container assembled there from.

For example, having smoked the cigarettes in a reclosable pack ofcigarettes formed from a kit according to the present invention, theconsumer discards only the empty disposable cartridge thereof. Thecardboard outer sleeve and sheet of protective film are the only thingsthrown away and so less waste material is generated than on the disposalof a conventional cardboard hinge-lid cigarette pack, which additionallyincludes an inner foil or metallized paper liner and a cardboard innerframe as well as the cardboard forming the lid thereof.

According to the invention there is also provided a disposable cartridgeof consumer goods for use in a kit according to the inventioncomprising: a sealed enclosure of consumer goods comprising a sheet ofprotective material wrapped around the consumer goods; an outer housingaround the sealed enclosure of consumer goods, the outer housing havingan opening through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goodsprotrudes and is accessible; and means provided in the sheet ofprotective material for opening the sealed enclosure so as to allowaccess to the consumer goods therein through the opening in the outerhousing.

Preferably, the disposable cartridge further comprises retention meansprovided on the interior of the outer housing for, in use, cooperatingwith a reusable closure inserted therein so as to releasably engage thereusable closure within the outer housing.

According to the invention there is further provided a reusable closurefor use in a kit according to the invention comprising: a dispensingaperture extending across a top wall of the reusable closure into a sidewall thereof; and a hinged lid pivotable between a closed position, inwhich the hinged lid covers the dispensing aperture, and an openposition, in which the dispensing aperture is accessible.

Preferably, at least a lower portion of the reusable closure isdimensioned to be received within an open upper end of a sleeve housinga sealed enclosure of consumer goods, preferably a wrapped bundle ofcigarettes. Preferably, the portion of the reusable closure dimensionedto be received within the open upper end of the sleeve is provided withretention means for, in use, cooperating with retention means providedon the interior of the sleeve so as to releasably engage the reusableclosure with the sleeve.

Preferably, the retention means comprises at least one outwardlyprojecting lug.

The reusable closure and one or more disposable cartridges of smokingarticles or other consumer goods according to the invention may be soldor otherwise distributed together, as part of a kit according to theinvention, or may be distributed independently of one another.

A kit according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention,for the self-assembly of a reclosable pack of cigarettes, includes: adisposable cartridge of cigarettes comprising a bundle of cigarettes, asheet of protective material wrapped around the bundle of smokingarticles to form a sealed enclosure and an outer sleeve around thesealed enclosure, the outer sleeve having an open upper end; and areusable cap comprising a dispensing aperture and a lid moveable betweena closed position, in which the lid covers the dispensing aperture, andan open position, in which the dispensing aperture is accessible, thereusable cap and outer sleeve being releasably engageable through theinsertion of at least a portion of the reusable cap into the open end ofthe outer sleeve so that the dispensing aperture of the reusable cap andthe open upper end of the outer sleeve are substantially aligned.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a kit for the self-assembly of a reclosable pack of smokingarticles according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a reclosable pack assembled from the kit of FIG. 1.

The kit shown in FIG. 1 includes a disposable cartridge 2 and a reusableclosure 4.

The disposable cartridge 2 comprises a bundle of twenty cigarettes 6,arranged in three parallel rows in a nested 7-6-7 collation, wrapped ina folded sheet of opaque, metallized, polypropylene film 8. A tear tape10 provided in the film 8 (shown by dotted and dashed lines in FIG. 1)extends around the bundle proximate the upper end of the cigarettes 6.

The disposable cartridge 2 further comprises an outer housing 12 withinwhich the wrapped bundle of cigarettes 6 is housed. To prevent thewrapped bundle of cigarettes 6 from being accidentally removed from theouter housing 12, a portion of the outer surface of the folded sheet ofopaque, metallized, oriented polypropylene film 8 is preferably affixedto a portion of the inner surface of the outer housing 12 with, forexample, an adhesive.

The outer housing 12 is a cardboard sleeve of rectangular cross-sectionhaving an open upper end. The cardboard sleeve has a narrow front wall14 and an opposed, parallel, narrow rear wall (not shown), a wide leftside wall 16 and an opposed, parallel, wide right side wall (not shown),which connect corresponding side edges of the front wall 14 and the rearwall, and a bottom wall, which connects the lower edges of the frontwall 14, rear wall, left side wall 16 and right side wall. As shown inFIG. 1, the height of the front wall 14, rear wall, left side wall 16and right side wall of the cardboard sleeve forming the outer housing 12are such that the upper end of the wrapped bundle of cigarettes 6,standing on the bottom wall thereof, projects out of the open upper endof the cardboard sleeve beyond the top of the outer housing 12.

An opposed pair of flaps 18 (shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1) located onthe interior of the outer housing extend downwardly from the upper edgesof the left side wall 16 and right side wall of the cardboard sleeveadjacent the inner surfaces thereof. Two opposed pairs of rectangularholes 20 (shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1) are cut out from each of theopposed flaps 18, proximate the lower edges thereof.

A longitudinal rip strip 22 is defined in the left side wall 16 of thecardboard sleeve, and the flap 18 adjacent the inner surface thereof, bya pair of spaced apart, parallel, vertical perforations (shown by dashedlines in FIG. 1) extending downwardly from the upper edge of the leftside wall 16, adjacent the rear wall of the cardboard sleeve. A smalltab 24 extends upwardly from the upper edge of the left side wall 16 ofthe cardboard sleeve at the top of the rip strip 22.

The reusable closure 4 is a cap having a narrow front wall 26 and anopposed, parallel, narrow rear wall (not shown), a wide left side wall28 and an opposed, parallel, wide right side wall (not shown), whichconnect corresponding side edges of the front wall 26 and the rear wall,and a top wall 30, which connects the upper edges of the front wall 26,rear wall, left side wall 28 and right side wall.

A dispensing aperture 32 (shown in FIG. 2) extends across the top wall30 of the reusable closure 4 into the front wall 26 thereof. As shown inFIG. 1, the dispensing aperture 32 is covered by an integral lid 34,which is pivotably connected to the top wall 30 of the reusable closure4, along a hinge line at the rear of the aperture 32, proximate andparallel to the rear side edge of the top wall 30 of the reusableclosure 4.

Two opposed pairs of outwardly projecting lugs 36 (indicated by dashedlines in FIG. 1) are provided on the left side wall and the right sidewall of the reusable closure 4 along the lower edges thereof.

In use, to assemble the reclosable pack of cigarettes, the consumerplaces the reusable closure 4 over the upper end of the wrapped bundleof cigarettes 6 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 and inserts a lowerportion thereof into the open upper end of the cardboard sleeve formingthe outer housing 12 of the disposable cartridge 2.

As the lower portion of the reusable closure 4 is pushed into the openupper end of the cardboard sleeve, the two opposed pairs of outwardlyprojecting lugs 36 along the lower edges of the left side wall and theright side wall of the reusable closure 4 pass downwardly over thesurface of the opposed pair of flaps 18 adjacent the inner surfaces ofthe left side wall 16 and right side wall of the cardboard sleeve. Asthey near the lower edges of the opposed pair flaps 18, the outwardlyprojecting lugs 36 fall into and are retained by the two opposed pairsof rectangular holes 20 provided in the opposed pair of flaps 18. Theinteraction between two opposed pairs of outwardly projecting lugs 36and two opposed pairs of rectangular holes 20 holds the lower portion ofthe reusable closure 4 within the cardboard sleeve, preventingaccidental separation of the reusable closure 4 from the disposablecartridge 2.

In addition to providing a latching effect, the construction anddimensions of the opposed flaps 18, rectangular holes 20 and outwardlyprojecting lugs 36 are preferably such that, in use, the retention ofthe lugs 36 in the rectangular holes 20 in the opposed flaps 18 producesa clicking sound, thereby providing the consumer with an audibleindication that the reusable closure 4 has been properly engaged withthe cartridge 2.

To prevent the consumer from inserting the reusable closure 4 too farinto the outer housing 12 of the disposable cartridge 2 during assemblyof the reclosable pack, and so potentially damaging the upper ends ofthe cigarettes 6 in the wrapped bundle housed therein, the front wall26, rear wall, left side wall 28 and right side wall of the reusableclosure 4 are preferably profiled so that only a pre-determined desiredportion of the reusable closure 4 is suitably dimensioned to fit withinthe cardboard sleeve.

Once the lower portion of the reusable closure 4 has been correctlyinserted into the outer housing 12 of the cartridge 2, the consumeropens the integral lid 34 of the reusable closure 4, by pivoting itabout the hinge line, to expose the dispensing aperture 32 extendingacross the top wall 30 of the reusable closure 4 into the front wall 26thereof. With the integral lid 34 of the reusable closure 4 in the openposition shown in FIG. 2, the consumer then pulls on the tear tape 10 inthe folded sheet of transparent polypropylene film 8 (shown in FIG. 1)in order to separate the upper portion thereof, above the tear tape 10,from the remainder of the polypropylene wrapper and so expose the upperend of the bundle of cigarettes 6 in the cartridge 2 as shown in FIG. 2.The consumer may then remove one or more cigarettes from the bundlethrough the dispensing aperture 32 in the reusable cap 4.

The integral lid 34 of the reusable closure 4 allows the assembled packof cigarettes 6 to be repeatedly opened and closed by the consumer.Preferably, the reusable closure 4 and integral lid 34 are provided witha “click-close” or other known mechanism or feature that provides theconsumer with an audible indication of the closing or opening of theassembled pack.

Once all of the cigarettes 6 have been removed, the consumer separatesthe reusable closure 4 from the empty disposable cartridge 2 by pullingthe reusable closure 4 upward to remove the lower portion thereof fromthe upper end of the outer housing 12. To facilitate removal of thereusable closure 4 from the outer housing 12, before pulling thereusable closure 4 upward, the consumer grasps the small upstanding tab24 at the top of the rip strip 22 and pulls downwardly to separate therip strip 22 from the remainder of the left side wall 16 of thecardboard sleeve along the pair of spaced apart, parallel, verticalperforations. Having ripped or torn the cardboard sleeve along theperforations, the consumer may then readily overcome the latching effectbetween the pairs of opposed lugs 36 on the reusable closure 4 and theopposed pairs of rectangular holes 20 on the opposed flaps 18 of thecardboard sleeve in order to remove the reusable closure 4 from thecardboard sleeve; this may also produce a clicking sound.

To further facilitate the separation of the reusable closure 4 and thedisposable cartridge 2, the outer housing 12 of the disposable cartridge2 may include a second rip strip in the right side wall of the cardboardsleeve. The rip strip 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 extends only part waydown the left side wall 16 of the cardboard sleeve. The disposablecartridges of kits according to the invention may, however, comprise oneor more rip strips extending part way or all the way along the outerhousing from the opening.

Once the reusable cover 4 has been removed from the outer housing 12,the empty disposable cartridge 2 can then be discarded and the reusableclosure 4 releasably engaged with the outer housing of a new, fullcartridge 2 of cigarettes 6 in the same manner previously described.

To form the disposable cartridge 2 shown in FIG. 1, a nested 7-6-7collation of twenty cigarettes 6 is formed and wrapped by folding asheet of polypropylene film about the bundle of cigarettes 6 in aconventional manner. The wrapped bundle may then be inserted in a pocketon a wrapping wheel that is indexable between a number of stations.Prior to insertion of the wrapped bundle of cigarettes, the pocket islined with a laminar cardboard blank including various panels and flaps,which when folded about appropriate score lines produce the cardboardsleeve that forms the outer housing 12 of the disposable cartridge 2. Asthe wrapping wheel indexes around from station to station, the laminarcardboard blank is folded in stages around the bundle of cigarettes 6 ina known manner using conventional machinery to form the disposablecartridge 2. Alternatively, the outer housing 12 may be pre-erected, byfolding the various panels and flaps of the laminar cardboard blankabout the appropriate score lines to produce the cardboard sleeve, andthe wrapped bundle of cigarettes 6 then inserted into the pre-erectedouter housing 12 to form the disposable cartridge 2.

The reusable closure 4 may be made using any suitable conventionalprocess such as, for example, injection, bi-injection or compressionmoulding.

While the invention has been exemplified with reference to a kit for theself-assembly of a reclosable pack of cigarettes, it will be appreciatedthat kits according to the invention for the self-assembly of reclosablecontainers of other consumer goods may be similarly produced.

It will also be appreciated that while the cartridge of cigarettes ofthe kit for the self-assembly of a reclosable pack of cigarettesdescribed above has right-angled edges, kits for the self-assembly ofreclosable containers according to the invention and the cartridgestherefore may have, for example, one or more rounded or beveledlongitudinal or transverse edges.

1. A kit for the self-assembly of a reclosable container of consumergoods including: a disposable cartridge comprising: a sealed enclosureof consumer goods; and an outer housing around the sealed enclosure ofconsumer goods having an opening through which the sealed enclosure ofconsumer goods protrudes and is accessible; and a reusable closurecomprising: a dispensing aperture; and a lid moveable between a closedposition, in which the lid covers the dispensing aperture, and an openposition, in which the dispensing aperture is accessible, the reusableclosure and the outer housing of the disposable cartridge beingreleasably engageable so that the dispensing aperture of the reusableclosure and the opening of the outer housing are substantially aligned.2. A kit according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing aperture extendsacross a first wall of the reusable closure into an adjacent second wallthereof.
 3. A kit according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of thereusable closure is insertable into the outer housing of the disposablecartridge through the opening.
 4. A kit according to claim 3 wherein theouter housing of the disposable cartridge is provided with firstretention means that, in use, cooperate with second retention meansprovided on the reusable closure, the first retention means beingprovided on the interior of the outer housing and the second retentionmeans being provided on the exterior of the portion of the reusableclosure that is insertable into the outer housing through the opening.5. A reclosable container of consumer goods assembled from a kitaccording to claim
 1. 6. A disposable cartridge of consumer goodscomprising: a sealed enclosure of consumer goods comprising a sheet ofprotective material wrapped around the consumer goods; an outer housingaround the sealed enclosure of consumer goods, the outer housing havingan opening through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goodsprotrudes and is accessible; and means provided in the sheet ofprotective material for opening the sealed enclosure so as to allowaccess to the consumer goods therein.
 7. A disposable cartridgeaccording to claim 6 further comprising retention means provided on theouter housing for, in use, cooperating with a reusable closure toreleasably engage the reusable closure.
 8. A disposable cartridgeaccording to claim 7 wherein the retention means are provided on theinterior of the outer housing for, in use, cooperating with a portion ofthe reusable closure inserted therein so as to releasably engage theportion of the reusable closure within the outer housing.
 9. Adisposable cartridge according to claim 6 wherein the outer housingincludes at least one line of weakness extending from the opening.
 10. Adisposable cartridge according to claim 9 wherein the outer housingincludes a pair of spaced apart, parallel, lines of weakness extendingfrom the opening.
 11. A disposable cartridge according to claim 6wherein the outer housing is a sleeve having an open end.
 12. Adisposable cartridge according to claim 5 wherein the sheet ofprotective material includes a line of weakness that extends around thesealed enclosure.
 13. A disposable cartridge according to claim 5wherein the consumer goods are smoking articles.